The 50 most influential cats on the Internet

Cinde Ramire, Express-News

By Cinde Ramirez, San Antonio Express-News

Updated 12:54 pm, Wednesday, July 9, 2014

New cat stars are popping up on the Internet
every day, which makes it hard to keep track of who's who and what
celebrity kitty will blow up the Internet next. Now Friskies, has its own power ranking of meme-worthy felines, and has launched the definitive
guide of the 50 most influential cats on the Internet Click to see the ranking list

SAN ANTONIO -- Move over, Grumpy Cat, new feline stars are popping up faster than you can show your frowny face.

New feline sensations are showing up on the Internet every day, which makes it hard to keep track of who's who and what celebrity kitty will blow up the Internet next, according to Business Week.

Now, Friskies, a leader in Internet cat culture, has its own power ranking of meme-worthy felines, and has launched the definitive guide of the 50 most influential cats on the Internet.

With the Friskies 50, users are able to view how cats rank each month depending on their score from the previous month. Arrows displayed beside each cat's name indicate upward or downward movement. For example, upward indicators in green show an increase in score and downward indicators in red show a decrease, the report says.

"Cat lovers can't get enough of Internet cat culture; there have been billions of cat video views on YouTube, and popular cat personalities dominate social media with massive followings. But with such a cluttered landscape, where do you start?" says Shaun Belongie, senior brand manager for Friskies.

The benefits of having a pet extend well beyond companionship. The American Heart Association cites a number of studies that found pet ownership may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some data even indicates that pets help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and that owners with heart issues are more likely to survive heart attacks.

"Friskies is committed to being a leader in Internet cat culture and we saw an opportunity to help cat lovers navigate the crazy, wonderful world of Internet cats with the Friskies 50. We hope people love it as much as we do." says Belongie.

The findings reported that topped the chart this month are famous felines Grumpy Cat, Lil' Bub, Colonel Meow, Oskar &Klaus and City the Kitty. Click through the gallery above to see the cutest felines on the web.